Make It Home For Christmas [COMPLETE]

Chapter Ten

During the holiday season, the ski lodge had its annual gala. And Hummel had the Stephens' family Christmas party.

It was officially called the Hummel Farms Christmas Celebration and it was the Christmas party of the season for all of Hummel. It was the biggest event of the year and the hardest invite to snag for Hummel residents.

The Hummel Farms Christmas Celebration differed from the rest of the Stephens family get-togethers in its formality. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner were 'Come as you are' type events, open to anyone and everyone who needed a place to go for the holidays. The dress code was casual as was the start and end time.

The Hummel Farms Christmas Celebration, however, was the closest thing the Stephens came to throwing an office party. The dress code was semi-formal and the only people invited were farmhands, farm store employees, and the vendors Hummel bought from. Since the farm store stocked wares from half of Hummel's entire population, it was a large guest list and the place to be ten days before Christmas.

Most of Frankie's, and therefore Johnny's, jobs leading up to the big event were solely focused on getting everything ready for the party. When the evening of the fifteenth came finally came, their hard work was put on full display.

The Christmas décor that had started humbly in the family room with a tree and some stockings had exploded over the last three days and spread like ivy all over the Stephens's first floor. The formal living was now a festive silver and blue and a second tree had been brought in to fill the back corner. Greenery ran up the banisters leading to the second floor and holly hung from the lighting fixtures in the dining room.

The party started as soon as the first guests arrived and the first cry of "Merry Christmas!" was exchanged.

Frankie's smile was already wide with pride when guests started to arrive. She had the honor of standing by the door to greet everyone, passing their coats to Johnny who then ran them to Dan's office at the back of the first floor.

A fire burned low in the grate as the number of bodies filling the low-ceilinged first floor offered enough heat to warm everyone coming in from the bitter cold. Aaron's kids were soon joined by other kids and their cries of joy floated over the jumbled mess of adult chatter.

The dining room table was filled with food. The party was, and had always been, pot-luck but it was an occasion everyone brought their best for. Hannah and Sara's hard work from the week leading up filled the dessert table lining the far wall. A store staff member was put in charge of keeping tiny hands from digging in too soon and too frequently.

Frankie soaked in the sight before her as she stood in the kitchen doorway. She had greeted everyone as they came in, welcoming them with a smile and a warm handshake. She knew every person here and the few she didn't she was quickly introduced to. The room was filled with Hummel's heart and soul and Frankie was honored to be one of them.

"What a party," Johnny said, joining her in the doorway.

Frankie's smile widened as the front door opened again and the last family arrived.

"Come on," Frankie said, "There's someone you should meet."

Frankie grabbed Johnny's hand without a second thought and pulled him through the crowd. Nina Griffith and her family had only a second to pull off their coats and let their cheeks warm before Frankie was in front of them introducing Johnny.

"Nina, I'd like you to meet Johnny, Dan's son. Johnny, these are the Griffiths. They moved here a few years ago. Nina's work is our best selling items in the store."

"You flatter me, darling." Nina's cheeks did not redden under Frankie's compliments but she tried her best to seem humble. "Johnny, dear, good to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you. I believe you bought one of my scarves the other day from Heather's boutique."